TORONTO, Oct. 10, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Many small- and medium-sized businesses are not ready for the legalization of recreational marijuana, according to a new poll conducted by Express Employment Professionals.
With only one week until recreational marijuana use becomes legal, more than 80 per cent of businesses polled have not received any information from federal or provincial governments regarding marijuana use in the workplace.
The survey of Canadian businesses also found two-thirds of those polled are concerned with potential recreational marijuana use by employees, with half responding that they think it will have an impact on workplace safety. More than a third of businesses are worried recreational marijuana use will also lead to new liabilities and costs.
Only half of small- and medium-sized businesses indicated they have protocols or guidelines in place regarding recreational marijuana use in the workplace, as legalization quickly approaches.
The survey of 322 small- and medium-sized businesses across Canada, which are current and former clients of Express Employment Professionals, was conducted in the first week of October 2018 to gauge respondents' views on the legalization of the recreational use of marijuana and its impact on the workplace. Full results are below.
Have you received any communication from the federal or provincial government regarding the recreational use of marijuana in the workplace?
| No | 81% | ||||||||
| Unsure | 12% | ||||||||
| Yes | 7% |
As a small- to medium-sized business, are you concerned with the potential for recreational marijuana use by employees in the workplace?
| Yes | 66% | |||||||
| No | 26% | |||||||
| Indifferent | 8% |
Do you think the legalization of recreational marijuana use will have an impact on safety within your workplace?
| Yes | 48% | |||||||
| No | 32% | |||||||
| Unsure | 21% |
Does your business have protocols and guidelines in place regarding employee use of recreational marijuana?
| Yes | 51% | |||||||
| No | 35% | |||||||
| Unsure | 15% |
Are you anticipating new liabilities and costs in the workplace associated with the recreational use of marijuana?
| Yes | 37% | |||||||
| No | 35% | |||||||
| Unsure | 28% |
If you would like to arrange for an interview to discuss this topic, please contact Ana Curic at (613) 858-2622 or email ana@mapleleafstrategies.com.
About Express Employment Professionals
Express Employment Professionals puts people to work. It generated $3.4 billion in sales and employed a record 540,000 people in 2017. Its long-term goal is to put a million people to work annually. For more information, visit ExpressPros.com.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/83d48423-6678-4ad4-a073-efdfc231bfb2